The cover art for Domo ArigaDIE!!! was inspired by Noboru Iguchi’s THE MACHINE GIRL. I didn’t know Iguchi’s work when I lived in Japan, just came across his work a year or so ago. I had a lot of catching up to do. The man is a genius, a crazy movie genius.
From what I’ve seen of his work, he’s so able to effectively blend genres, make films feel like live-action comic books, make films that make you want to turn away AND keep watching. He’s funny, too. He makes you care about the characters, too. And his camera doesn’t turn away when the movie-blood hits the screen (buckets of it, usually). And this one, THE MACHINE GIRL, it’s got everything an action-horror junkie craves: solid revenge story, action, glory, and a protagonist with a machine gun arm. You better believe she has something to fight for.
So, for all his over-the-top bravery, I have to give Iguchi-san a heavy dose of praise! He’s out there in the trenches, making incredibly satisfying films that blur boundaries and push limits. And the films are fun, well-paced, and well-acted. I would love to create a movie (or a book) that reaches to the places that his work does. He gives me something to strive for. Thank you, Noboru Iguchi! Carry on!
